Written by Jake O'Reilly on Wednesday 13 February 2013
The USGA will administer drugs tests at the US Amateur and US Women’s Amateur Championships for the first time in 2013. The news comes after a high profile few months for drugs in sport, after the Lance Armstrong doping scandal and recent Vijay Singh deer antler spray revelations. Drug testing programs have been part of the US Open and US Women’s Open since...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Friday 22 February 2013
It was a day of shocks and surprises at the WGC Matchplay as Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, Jason Dufner and Charl Schwartzel were all sent home in round one. However, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald – who is now the highest ranked player in the tournament – moved into the next round. Most of the talk will focus on world...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Monday 25 February 2013
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem threw a spanner in the works during the WGC-Accenture Matchplay by announcing that the PGA Tour opposes the plan to outlaw the anchored putting stroke. Finchem argued that the lack of evidence to suggest players had an advantage by using a long putter meant “there is no overriding reason to go down that road.” In his press conference...
Written by TG staff writer on Tuesday 26 February 2013
Four of the world’s top women golfers “walked on water” in their business suits today to launch the sixth HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore. The spectacular event was held at Marina Bay with World Number One Yani Tseng, defending champion Angela Stanford, and two other world-class golfers, Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer. The golfers, armed with both golf and business paraphernalia, looked...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Thursday 28 February 2013
In the videos below TG’s Instruction Editor Joel Tadman interviews Titleist star Jason Dufner about his 2012 season, the Ryder Cup at Medinah, what his tips are for amateur golfers and some random quiz questions. In this first video TG asked the American about his breakthrough 2012 season, his mixed feelings and memories from the Ryder Cup at Medinah and his...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Friday 1 March 2013
The European Challenge Tour will return to Northern Irish shores for the first time in 10 years when Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena, hosts the Northern Ireland Open Challenge from August 29th until September 1st. Michael Hoey, a four-time winner on The European Tour, will headline the field at the Country Antrim venue, hoping to add to his trophy haul, having also...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Friday 1 March 2013
The R&A has released a statment saying they will “work closely with the USGA in moving towards a final resolution,” after the end of the 90-day period where golfers could comment on the proposed anchoring ban. The governing body is in favour of Rule 14-1b, but PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem recently revelaed that the PGA Tour opposes the ban on anchoring. A R&A spokesman said: “We believed...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Friday 1 March 2013
Defending champion and world number one Rory McIlroy has dramatically withdrawn from the Honda Classic citing severe tooth ache. The Northern Irishman was seven-over-par through eight holes and had just found the water at the 18th – his 9th – when he made the decision to retire. “I sincerely apologise to the Honda Classic and PGA Tour for my sudden withdrawal,” he...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Monday 4 March 2013
The European Tour has confirmed its support for the R&A and the USGA and their proposal for rule 14-1b – the prohibition of anchoring – in a statement that will put them against the PGA Tour. George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “The European Tour has been fully involved in the consultation process which ended on February...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Monday 4 March 2013
PGA Tour stars Ben Crane, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan have released the encore to their popular ‘Golf Boys’ video entitiled “2.Oh”. The foursome filmed the golf based rap song to raise money for charity:water. On their donation page the golfers said: “We’ve had a lot of fun making the Golf Boys videos. We hope you enjoy them, too. One of our...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Tuesday 5 March 2013
Rory McIlroy has admitted he was wrong to withdraw from the Honda Classic, telling US magazine Sports Illustrated that “it was a reactive decision” and he now regrets that he stopped playing. The Northern Irishman walked off the course halfway through his second round and orignally told reporters as he left the course that he was in a “bad state mentally”, before later...
Written by Chris Hanson on Tuesday 5 March 2013
Away from the glamour of the European Tour there are thousands of golfers trying to make enough money to support their dreams and their families. In this TG online feature we follow the highs and lows of 2011 EuroPro Tour Order of Merit winner Chris Hanson, as he tries to adjust to life on the Challenge Tour. This week was...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Wednesday 6 March 2013
Just five days after his dramatic withdrawal from the Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy told the world’s press that walking off the course was a mistake, his new Nike equipment is just fine and he is not breaking up with Caroline Wozniacki. The 23-year-old started a frank and honest pre-tournament press conference by joking “I’d give myself a red card for last...
Written by TG Courses editor on Thursday 7 March 2013
Mottram Hall, Cheshire, will kickstart De Vere’s championship golf season after being named as the new host venue for the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship from June 6-9. The announcement is recognition of the venue’s burgeoning reputation, which will be further underlined by the completion of a major £6 million renovation in April. Legends from the world of golf are expected to...
Written by TG Courses editor on Thursday 7 March 2013
American Ryder Cup stars Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson, plus 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, will headline the field for this year’s Ballantine’s Championship. The trio of major winners will join home favourites YE Yang and KT Kim for the Championship’s sixth edition, which takes place from April 25-28 2013, at the prestigious Blackstone Golf Club in South Korea. This latest World-class...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Monday 11 March 2013
The PGA EuroPro Tour will make its debut at Moray Golf Club in July when Europe’s leading young pros play the Grant Property Investment Championship. The 54-hole Sky Sports televised event will be played on the Old Course at Moray, considered one of the finest links courses in Scotland. A classic designed by Old Tom Morris with deep bunkers, undulating gorse-lined...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Wednesday 13 March 2013
To an outsider, being a touring golf professional is the perfect life and although that may be the case for the top players in the world, the majority of aspiring professional golfers are still trying to achieve the dream and make to the very top level. For those that are still trying to reach those heights, The Players Tour offers aspiring and...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Wednesday 3 April 2013
De Vere Oulton Hall is set to host Stage 1 of the PGA EuroPro Tour Qualfying School this week after adverse weather in Northumberland meant De Vere Slaley Hall had to pull out. The championship standard and immaculate conditioned resort near Leeds has stepped, with the 36-hole stroke-play event now running on the 3rd and 4th of April. Oulton Hall already boasts a rich tournament heritage having hosted the prestigious...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Thursday 14 March 2013
An incredible prize fund of £100,000 is on offer to professionals competing in the Farmfoods British Par-3 Championship at Nailcote Hall this year. As Europe’s most prestigious par-3 tournament celebrates its 80th anniversary, the organisers have doubled the amount on offer to competitors with the winner this year taking home a cheque for £25,000, £10,000 more than last year’s first prize. Already one of the...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Friday 15 March 2013
A record prize fund of €4.75million – an increase of €250,000 on 2012 – will be at stake during the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth this year. The 2013 champion will receive €791,660, which is over €40,000 more than Luke Donald collected for his second consecutive success in 2012. The total prize fund has also grown by €750,000 – and the first prize by just over...